Switch and signal operating mechanism.



No. 727,281. M PATENTED MAY 5, 1903.

0. E. BROWN. SWITCH AND SIGNAL OPERATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED HOT. 15, 1902 N0 MODEL.

DI 13 k F km Arm/um.

Ens o, Pumoumu, WASHINGTON u c UNrrn STATES,

v Patented May 5, 1903.

ATENT DJBFICE.

CYRUS E. BROWN, OF JOHNSTO'WN, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE LORAIN STEEL COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

SWITCH AND SIGNAL OjPERATlNG MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 727,281, dated May 5, 1903.

Application filed October 15, 1902. serial No. 127,430. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OYRUs E. BROWN, of Johnstown, in the county of Cambria and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Switch and Signal Operating Mechanism, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention has relation to means for the simultaneous actuation by a single lever of a number of different switches and signals and is designed to provide a simple lever mechanism by means of which this can be readily and easily done.

An instance of the use of my invention is in ihe case where two railway-tracks cross each other at substantially right angles, one of the tracks being provided with normally open turnout or derailing switches at each side of the crossing track, while the latter is provided at each side of the crossing with a target or other signal, which is to be set to danger position whenever the said switches are closed.

My invention consists inthe novel con-- struction and combination of parts,all as hereinafter described, and pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a skeleton plan View of switch and signal devices embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of a portion of the same on a larger scale, and Fig. 3 is a side elevation with a portion of the box or casing removed.

The letter A designates what for convenience will be termed the main track of a crossing, and B the intersecting track.

C designates derailing or turnout switches, which are set in the track B at any desired distance from the crossing, one at each side.

D indicates rotary signals, which are placed along the main track at each side of the crossing. The switches O are normally held by springs O at open or derailing position and cannot be closed except by the operation of a lever E, which is at some distance from the switches and adjacent to the crossing, the purpose being to compel cars approaching the crossing from either direction on the track B to stop and the conductor or other employee thereon to approach the crossing or go over the same and see that no cars or trains are "approaching 0n the main track before closing the switches O.

The switches are operated by means of hellcrank levers C to which are connected rods F, which run to the box E, in which the lever E is pivoted and where they are connected to opposite arms 9 g of a horizontal bellcrank'or multiple-arm lever G. The signals D are operated by bell-crank and rod connections D, from which extend rods D to arms g g of the lever G. The lever G is actuated by the hand-lever E, before referred to, said lever normally lying within the box E. The short arm of this lever has two jaws or claws e c, which em- "brace the arm g of the leverG, the space bepose of operating the switches and signals. .When the lever reaches this position, the operator can then apply force thereto with the greatest ease and effect.

The operating connections D for the sig nals are provided with springs S, and these springs, together with the springs C, are designed to return the parts to their original positions as soon as the lever E is released, it being customary with switches of this charo actor to require the operator to retain control of the lever until the car has passed the switch. Should these springs fail to act, however, the jaw e of the lever E will engage the arm 9 as said lever is thrown back into 5 the box, and thus force the :return of the switches and signals to their normal position.

The particular construction and arrangement of the switches and signals and of their immediate operating devices forms no part of ICU my invention, and any suitable form of those devices may be employed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. Means for the simultaneous operation of a number of switch and signal devices, consisting of a horizontally-movable multiplearm lever, actuating connections between the same and the switch and signal devices to be operated, and an operating-lever having a forked short arm which engages one arm of the multiple-arm lever.

2. Means for the simultaneous operation of a number of switch and signal devices, consisting of a horizontally-movable multiplearm lever, actuating connections between the CYRUS E. BRO WN.

Witnesses:

LORETTO OCONNELL, H. W. SMITH. 

